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Alleged killer’s trial status still unclear

Published: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 8:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 4:18 p.m.

Doctors have not yet re-examined the mental state of a Thibodaux man accused of beheading his 7-year-old son in August, and it remains unclear if he will stand trial for the slaying.

At a status hearing Tuesday, Lafourche Judge John LeBlanc said doctors' latest evaluations about Jeremiah Wright's ability to assist in his defense and to understand court proceedings will be heard in mid-February. LeBlanc will decide March 7 if Wright, who allegedly confessed to the killing in a statement to police, is competent.

Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant II said there is more information from the investigation into the killing of Jori Lirette to release to doctors, though he would not elaborate. Wright, 30, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Jori, a second-grader at South Thibodaux Elementary who was wheelchair-bound and had cerebral palsy.

In October, a court-appointed panel of doctors determined Wright was unfit to stand trial. Since then, he has been held at the Feliciana Forensic Facility in Jackson, where he is being treated in an attempt to make him competent. All court proceedings are suspended.

The case will be scheduled for trial if Wright is found mentally competent. If he cannot be made fit through treatment, it's possible he will spend the rest of his life in a psychiatric institution.

The prosecution and defense can also use the March 7 hearing to present evidence and call witnesses to the stand, if they choose.

LeBlanc will make the final decision about Wright's capacity to stand trial, though if lawyers do not present evidence or witnesses, LeBlanc's decision will be based primarily on doctors' information, Morvant said.

During the 15-minute hearing Tuesday, Morvant announced that “the state has additional information to submit that will supplement the police report.”

He asked LeBlanc if he could submit it to doctors, who could decide if it was information they needed to determine Wright's competency.

LeBlanc said he would allow that as long as the District Attorney's Office sent a copy of the information to Wright's lawyer.

Morvant declined to describe what the new information is but said it would come out in court if the trial begins.

When it comes to treating a potentially mentally ill defendant, the time it takes to make someone fit for trial varies from case to case, Morvant said.

“Each person is going to be different on restoring competency,” Morvant said, adding that in his experience it can happen “in a matter of a month” or “never.”

Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@houmatoday.com.

<p>Doctors have not yet re-examined the mental state of a Thibodaux man accused of beheading his 7-year-old son in August, and it remains unclear if he will stand trial for the slaying. </p><p>At a status hearing Tuesday, Lafourche Judge John LeBlanc said doctors' latest evaluations about Jeremiah Wright's ability to assist in his defense and to understand court proceedings will be heard in mid-February. LeBlanc will decide March 7 if Wright, who allegedly confessed to the killing in a statement to police, is competent.</p><p>Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant II said there is more information from the investigation into the killing of Jori Lirette to release to doctors, though he would not elaborate. Wright, 30, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Jori, a second-grader at South Thibodaux Elementary who was wheelchair-bound and had cerebral palsy. </p><p>In October, a court-appointed panel of doctors determined Wright was unfit to stand trial. Since then, he has been held at the Feliciana Forensic Facility in Jackson, where he is being treated in an attempt to make him competent. All court proceedings are suspended.</p><p>The case will be scheduled for trial if Wright is found mentally competent. If he cannot be made fit through treatment, it's possible he will spend the rest of his life in a psychiatric institution.</p><p>The prosecution and defense can also use the March 7 hearing to present evidence and call witnesses to the stand, if they choose.</p><p>LeBlanc will make the final decision about Wright's capacity to stand trial, though if lawyers do not present evidence or witnesses, LeBlanc's decision will be based primarily on doctors' information, Morvant said. </p><p>During the 15-minute hearing Tuesday, Morvant announced that “the state has additional information to submit that will supplement the police report.” </p><p>He asked LeBlanc if he could submit it to doctors, who could decide if it was information they needed to determine Wright's competency.</p><p>LeBlanc said he would allow that as long as the District Attorney's Office sent a copy of the information to Wright's lawyer.</p><p>Morvant declined to describe what the new information is but said it would come out in court if the trial begins.</p><p>When it comes to treating a potentially mentally ill defendant, the time it takes to make someone fit for trial varies from case to case, Morvant said.</p><p>“Each person is going to be different on restoring competency,” Morvant said, adding that in his experience it can happen “in a matter of a month” or “never.”</p><p><i>Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@houmatoday.com.</i></p>